Room-temperature-regulating air valve



April 21, 1931. E, s HALSEY K 1,801,740

ROOM TEMPERATURE REGULATING AIR VALVE- Filed Feb. e, '1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 April 21, 1931. E s, HALSEY 1,801,740

ROOM TEMPERATURE REGULATING AIR VALVE Filed F'eb. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edwqzle www kdm A Patented-Apr. 21, 1931 rarest terriers EDWARD S. HALSEY, OF MIAMI SHORES, FLQRIDA ROOM-TEMPER-ATURE-REGULATING vAIR VALVE Application lcd February 6, 1930. Serial No. 426,286.

the radiator, in response to fluctuations of steam pressure, above and below that of the atmosphere.

rIhe invention consists in the features and construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

1n the drawings: f

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a radiator and an attachment embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section; Figs. 3 and 4 are views in section relating to the thermostat;

Fig.v 5 is an end view of the thermostatic unit; f

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of Fig. 2 on line 6 6;

Fig. 7 is a view of a modified embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of the control valve;

Fig. 9 is a view of the means for creating variations in the steam pressure;

Fig. 10 is a view of a modiiied means for cretting variations in the steam pressure;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views of details.

1n the drawings 1 indicates what is usually the vent end of the radiator where ordinarily a vent valve is provided for the escape of air from the radiator.

Into the opening 2 is screwed a nipple 3 of the valve casing. This is made up of a lower portion 4 of substantially cup shape into the top of which is screw threaded a shell 5, open at its upper end and receiving a thin metallic shellG which is forced down into the main shell with a tight fit. Suitable packing is arranged at 7 to make a steam tight seal. The inner shell 6 isclosed at its upper end. The lower edge portion of thisl inner shell is reducedin diameter to provide a depending flange 8, the edge of which forms an upper seat for a valve disc 9 of rubber, mica, or other suitable material. Said valve disc is thin and flexible and is reinforced by dished plates 10 and 11, which diverge from each other at their edges so that the disc valve may flex in finding a clos-e fit with its seat. There is provided also a lower seat 8a for the valve disc 9 said seat being formed by an upstanding rim or flange on the main body 4 of the casing. The valve means 9 is provided with an ear 12 to which is attached a wire or rod 13 connected to an arm 65 14 extending out through an enlarged opening 15 of the casing. This arm is connected with arm 16 which is connected with the shaft 17 of the ,thermostat which is exposed yto the temperature of the room, the construction of the thermostat being such, as hereinafter described, that when the temperature of the room rises above normal th en the connections described will be operated so that the disc valve will be raised against the upper seat 8 against which it will loosely or lightly bear. When, on the other hand the temperature of the room is sub-normal then the shaft 17 of the thermostat will be rotated in a direction opposite to that under super-normal 30 temperature conditions and the disc valve will be lowered to rest loosely or lightly upon its lower seat 8a. rlhe opening 15 in the side of the casing communicates with the atmosphere and for this purpose the main shell is slotted at 15a.

The sensitivity of the thermostat can be such that the entire movement 'of the valve will take place during a variation of one degree in temperature.

While the valve is resting on its upper seat as a consequence of the super-normal temperature of the room as above referred to and the radiator is under pressure i. e. with steam above atmospheric pressure no air can escape from the radiator. but' upon slight recessions of this pressure then the air will enter the radiator. In this action the valve disc will move from its upper seat and allow air to enter the radiator which will occupy space therein displacing the steam and thus acting to cool the radiator.

Now when a subnormal temperature of the room is reached and the valve disc lies on its lower seat 8a the inlet of air to the radiator past the valve 9 will be no longer possible upon recessions of pressure thus retaining its steam and temperature. Air, however, can escape from the radiator on slight rise of pressure owing to the valve moving upwardly from its lower seat under said slight rise of pressure. The valve disc 9 is of comparatively large diameter and its large area facilitates the actions above described. The valve when on its upper seat acts as a check against outflow of air from the radiator while allowing air to enter under recessions of pressure within the radiator to displace or hold back the steam to lower the room temperature. On the other hand when on its lower seat the valve disc acts as a check against inlet of air to the radiator under recession of pressure within the radiator while allowing the air to freely escape from the radiator for the inlet of steam to raise the room temperature.

There is also provided within the valve casing a partition 18 with a small central aperture 19. This is controlled by a valve 20 on a float or'wdilating member 21 -so that if steam or water ltends to rush out through the connection 3 from the radiator the upper wall of the member will rise and the float 21 will rise as a body and the opening 2O will be closed.

This is the opening through which the radiator is placed in communication with the atmosphere, but under control of course of the disc valve 9. This float is a hollow body containing an alcohol vapor charge. It will dilate under steam temperatures and check the outflow of steam. It is buoyant so that it will quickly rise if Water appears.

The thermostat may be of various forms. The form shown includes the shaft 17 to which the bi-metal thermostat coil 17a is attached. This coil is sensitive to temperature changes and under a rise of temperature in the room it will rotate the shaft 17 one way and under a fall of temperature it will rotate the shaft the other way. The coil and shaft arrangement is illustrated in detail in Flgs. 3 and 4. They are enclosed in al tubular caslng 22 held by brackets 23 extending from a shield o1' heat insulating base plate or board 24 say of bakelite supported by a bracket 25 partly encircling the cylindrical casing of the valve mechanism.

Adjustment ofxthe coil can be effected by turning the finger button 26 having it's'central sleeve portion 27 j ournalled in the casing 22, said sleeve having a plug 28 aiixed thereto to which the coil is attached.

The finger piece may be graduated as at 29 so that desired adjustment may be secured relative to a pointer 30. Stops are provided at 31 to come against the frame part 32.

The thermostat is arranged horizontally and transversely of the end of the radiator. It extends about equally on opposite sides of the central vertical plane of the radiator. This thermostat is relatively feeble but active. It has a movement of about ,-,l of an inch per degree. As above stated the thermostat coil is arranged with its axis horizontally and the connection between this horizontal coil and the valve is such that the valve will be held lightly on either seat, but will be capable of movement off from either seat, under the conditions above secured, the coil yielding by a slight winding or unwinding movement as the case may be in the actions described. In other words the valve is double acting in that it is placed on either its upper or lower seat by the action of the thermostat and when on either seat it will prevent flow of air past it in one direction but will allow passage of air in another direction, said valve for the latter purpose moving from its seat and the thermostat coil yielding circumferentially to permit these actions.

Any suitable means may be employed for locking the appliance to the radiator, such for instance as the clamps shown at A. This involves any desired means for locking a retainer screw in place so that considerable work would have t0 be performed in order to remove the appliance and this would deter casual theft of the appliance.

In Fig. 7 I show the attachment mounted on top of the usual vent valve casing 33 which as in former practice is screwed into the vent of the radiator.

I show in Fig. 8 a modified form of valve, where instead of using a disc of flexible material I employ a body 9a of double conical form to seat either at its upper or lower ends, said seats being indicated at 8m and 8g. This valve is connected either to the thermostat in the same manner as above described by a rod 13 and arm 14 passing through the air port 15, and its action is substantially the sameas that described in the first form of the invention. The valve is located in a supplemental housing b and is rovided with a disc c of a diameter to lit falrly close within the housing. This disc increases the sensitiveness of the valve and steadies it in its operation it having a piston like action in thc housing. In this form the oat or dilating or expansible member 21a acts directly against the valve and closes it against its upper seat on attempted outflow of steam or water. While the valve medium above described will operate through the material iuctuations in pressure in the ordinary domestic heating' system which at intervals falls to or slightly below atmospheric pressure and under the damper influence again rises to a moderate pressure above atmosphere, means may be used in connection with a system employing my improvement set forth above for creating intermittingly rises and rccessions of the pressure Within the system, from slightly below atmosphere pressure to a pressure of one pound or so. In Fig. 9 I show such means in which 3 is the steam riser pipe from boiler 35. At 36 is a weighted4 lever pivoted at 37, and connected at its ends with the furnace damper 38 and check 39 respectively as in usual practice. This lever has an upstanding ear 40 adJacent the pivot/37. and a spring 41 is'connected with the upper end of this ear andV with a point on the pivot so that when the lever is tilted either one way or the other tomove the upper end of the spring slightly beyond the vertical plane in which the pivot 37 andd the lower end of the spring lie, the said spring will exert a retai'ding force and suddenly move the lever to its extreme limit thus adjusting the damper and the check to bring on suddenly a change in the draft and check condition to thereby quicklyfchange the operation of the furnace to increase or reduce pressure as the case may be. The lever is operated by a sylphon bellows at 4t2.

In Figs. 10 to'12 I show another means for producingl the fluctuations in pressure. In

this form the riser pipes a, c, d, say four ill number, branch off from a central riser 34a, each riser supplying steam to the group of radiators in its respective quarter. At the liunction of these pipes there is a casing i3 Fig. 12 containing a loose fitting rotary valve 44 which as it rotates partially closes for a brief period and in succession the series pipeS a, b, c, d. This valveison a'vertical shaft 45 which is driven by any suitable means from a motor as shown for instance by a Geneva movement 46 Fig. 1l. By this means the valve when it closes either of the pipes a, b, o. cl, against the passage of steam therethrough from the boiler t-o the corresponding group riser will dwellvin its closed position with the result ofcutting off the steam periodically and for a prescribed time from each riser, thus creating the desired fluctuations for the operation of the automatic control of each successive groups of radiators.

It is obvious that many other simple means could be employed to bring about this desired intermittent recession of steam pressure, such for instance as accumulating the return Water from the mains in an automatic dumping trap, arranged to periodically and suddenly discharge its cooled Water kinto the boiler, as often as it became filled from the return pipes feeding into it,thus momentarily cooling down the boiler. Instead of mounting the valve at the vent side of the radiator where at times the last section or sections are cold and at other times hot thus giving rise to varying air currents: which might affect the thermostat undesirably, I may ymount the valve mechanism at the inlet end of the radiator where it will be subject to more uniform influence of the room temperature or air currents, this inlet end of the radiator when in service being substantially uniformly heated. When so mounted at the inlet end of the radiator the valve mechanism is connected with thev vent by a pipe e so that the venting action of the valve mechanism is the saine as when mounted directly at'the-vent. The bakelite block in any event acts as a shield against radiated heat and as an insulator against heat conducted in respect to the thermostat.

I claim:

1. A control valve for radiators and in combination therewith a casing connected to the air vent of the radiator, a valve therein to control the passage of atmospheric air to the radiator and the discharge of air from the radiator to atmosphere, a room thermostat for controlling the said valve means for supporting the thermostat on the valve casing to be handled therewith as oneiinit, and means for transmitting movement from the thermostat to the valve.

2. A control valve for radiators comprising a casing connected to the air vent of the fia setting said valve in another position for subnormal room temperature, said valve under the super-normal condition acting as a check' valve against outflow of air from the radiator to atmosphere while allowing inflow of atmospheric air thereto and under sub-normal temperature condition acting as a check against inilow of atmospheric airto the radiator while allowing outflow to atmosphere of air from said radiator substantially as described.

3. A control valve according to claim 2 comprising a body to which the thermostat is connected and a. valve seat above and below said valve in relation to which the said valve may move to allow the passage of air, substantially as dfcfrribed.

4. In combination with a valve casing to be connectedto the vent of a radiator, a valve therein controllingsaid vent, a room thermostat and an actuating connection extending from said thermostat through an opening in the valve casing to the valve to transmit imotion from the thermostat to the valve, said ios opening allowing ingress andl egress of airY f Vne'cted to the vent of a radiator, an apertured partition in said casing.. a float valve in the casing controlling said aperture, a valve above said partition, a vseat above and a seat below said valve, a,v thermostat exposed to room temperature and connected with said valve, said valve when on its upper seat prev venting discharge of air from the radiator while allowing access of atmospheric air thereto and while on its lower seat checking flow of air into the radiator while allowing the passage of air therefrom to atmosphere substantially as described.

6. In combination, a main casing having a nipple for connection with a radiator. an upper casing section seated on the casing first mentioned, a casing section fitted into the upper casing section and having a flange of reduced diameter forming an upper seat for the valve, said main casing having a lower seat for the valve, a valve member operating between said seats and a thermostat exposed to room temperature and connected to the valve for operating it substantially as described.

7. In combination with a radiator, a valve mechanism connected with the vent of said radiator comprising a valve to control said vent, a room thermostat controlling the valve, and means for creating fluctuations of pressure within the radiator in addition to fluctuations inherent in such systems.

8. An apparatus of the class described, a double acting valve resting on a seat to prevent access of atmospheric air to the radiator while allowing discharge of air to atmosphere during subnormal room temperatures and resting on another seat during supernormal room temperatures to prevent escape of air to atmosphere from the radiator while allowing inlet of atmospheric air thereto, and a room thermostat controlling said valve.

9. In combination, a valve casing to be connected to the vent of a radiator of a heating system, a valve in said casing to control the passage of air to and from the radiator, a room thermostat connected with the valve to close it upon either one of two seats according as the room temperature is above or below normal, said valve in either position serving as a check to prevent passage of air in one direction but opening automatically for the passage of air in the other direction, the thermostat yielding to allow the last mentioned action to take place.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the thermostat connection will yield to allow the valve to open automatically from either of its seats under pressure of air substantially as described.

l1. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the thermostat is in the form of a coil which in winding moves the valve upon one seat and in unwinding moves the valve upon the other seat, said valve opening from either seat automatically under air pressure,the said thermostatic coil yielding by winding or unwinding for said automatic action of the valve substantially as described.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the valve operates vertically and the thermostat is in the form of a helix the axis of which extends horizontally.

13. Apparatus according to claim l in which the thermostat is in the form of a helix extending with its axis horizontally.

14. A room temperature regulating air valve means for radiators comprising a frame having means for attachment to a radiator, and a room thermostat mounted on the said frame for controlling the valve, said valve in turn controlling the air vent of the radiator, heat insulating means also mounted on the frame all said parts forming one unit for attachment to or removal from the radiator las one body.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

EDWARD S. HALSEY. 

